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Tag Archives: iPhone

Finishing the year atop Apple’s App Store list has never been more competitive. The company announced in October that the App Store features more than one million apps that have combined for more than 60 billion total app downloads.

Candy Crush Saga was a star for iOS users in 2013, taking the top spot as the most downloaded free app on both iPhone and iPad this year. The addicting game was also the top grossing app on both iPhone and iPad, an impressive feat considering the app is free and relies on in-app purchases for revenue.

Candy Crush officially earned its crown Monday when Apple released its annual list of the top downloaded apps. The company does not break out specific download figures, but it did reveal a “Top 10” list for multiple categories, including top paid iPhone and iPad apps. Minecraft – Pocket Edition took the top spot on both devices in the paid app category.

Examining the lists for both devices gives a slightly better picture of how users are engaging with iPhones and iPads. Social media sites, for example, were some of the most downloaded apps on iPhone, but only one, Facebook, even cracked the top 10 on iPad.

Twitter, the company behind the year’s most highly anticipated tech IPO, did not appear in the Top 10 on any list. Vine, the video sharing app Twitter unveiled in January, was #4 on the Free iPhone Apps list.

Snapchat, the photo-sharing app that automatically deletes images and videos after a recipient views them, was downloaded more times than Facebook and Instagram.

Based on the lists below, it appears as if iPads are primarily used for game playing — and gambling. Five of the top 10 highest grossing apps on the iPad in 2013 were gambling-related, including DoubleDown Casino, Big Fish Casino, and Slotomania HD; the other five were games.

Last year’s most popular free apps for iPhone and iPad — YouTube and Skype for iPad, respectively — were both in the top five again this year.

Here’s a look at the apps that kept us glued to our iOS devices in 2013.